ASHLAND — Members of the Ashland City Schools Board of Education discussed Monday night whether or not to allow students to take optional Bible-based classes from LifeWise Academy during the school day.
LifeWise Academy is a private organization that offers “Bible-based character education” to public school students nationwide. LifeWise had its first meeting with district administrators last week to discuss bringing the program to Ashland, superintendent Doug Marrah said.
LifeWise plans on offering religious instruction to students at Taft Intermediate School and Ashland’s elementary schools, LifeWise Area Director Mary Dolce said.
Dolce read a letter from LifeWise’s local board thanking the district for considering its programs at the board of education’s Monday night meeting, sparking a debate among members.
Board member Brandon Wells, who said he’s not necessarily against the program, raised concerns that LifeWise’s Bible-based teaching will conflict with the district’s science instruction.
“They come back and they’ve just been taught that creation happened in six days and they come back to a science class where a book says something different. So I have a bit of an issue where now they come back and half the class says ‘That’s not what I’m taught’,” he said.
He was also concerned about “the conservative nature of what might be taught about sexuality,” and how that might impact LGBT students.
In response, board member Pam Mowry brought up that students can also learn things that conflict with the school’s instruction at home.
“Do you have the same concerns with people that teach different things in their homes and kids come to school with it? I mean right from is there a Santa Clause and not a Santa Clause up to the big stuff?” she asked.
When LifeWise’s teachings conflict with the district’s, it’s a good opportunity for families to have a discussion, Dolce said.
“What we’re teaching is the truth which comes from the word of God and we’re gonna encourage our students to bring what they’re learning back home and have the discussion with the parents,” she said.
According to LifeWise’s website, its curriculum “is designed to take students through the entire Bible, beginning in Genesis and ending in Revelation, over the course of five years.” LifeWise’s instructors are not required to be certified as teachers, but they prefer to use instructors that are certified anyway, Dolce said.
Under Ohio law, organizations like LifeWise can offer religious instruction where students are excused from public school for a period of time to attend private religious instruction as long as their parents approve, the instruction happens off school grounds, and no public money is used.
LifeWise also has plans to bring its programs to every school district in Ashland County by the end of the year, Dolce said.
